The Tory plan for a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU cleared its first hurdle in the Lords. The EU (referendum) Bill was given an unopposed second reading after a seven-hour debate.

But there were warnings from Labour and Liberal Democrat backbenchers that the legislation, which guarantees a vote on EU membership in 2017, could be delayed and fail to make it back to the House of Commons in time to become law. The backbench peers (including Lord Oakeshott, an ally of Vince Cable) intend to table a series of amendments to the Bill, meaning it could run out of parliamentary time.

A defiant James Wharton, the backbench Tory MP who brought forward the legislation as a Private Member's Bill, responded saying there was a chance that he or other Conservative Eurosceptics would try again next year if this happened. "Whatever route is taken and however it comes about, have no doubt the Conservatives are determined to deliver a referendum," he told the BBC.

Earlier Lord Dobbs – author of the House of Cards novels – pleaded with his colleagues to listen to the public's demands for a poll. It would be a brave man and an "even braver unelected peer" who denied people a chance to decide their own future, he said.

His remarks seemed to be aimed at Labour peers including Lord Kinnock and Lord Mandelson, who – as if back from the dead – were in full 1990s-style Europhile mode. The former Labour leader said: "Mr Cameron's appeal to stop the banging on has been greeted daily by the unyielding europhobes inside, and Ukip outside, his party. To the detriment of our country he has pranced to their rhythm." Lord Mandelson meanwhile accused the Government of "holding a pistol" to Europe's head and said the Tories were "playing to the Ukip gallery".

Earlier in the day, one of Lord Mandelson's lines was especially jarring. We should be "wary", he said, of putting our membership of the EU "in the hands of a lottery". Voters are likely to see the referendum – and the methods of Europhile Labour and Lib Dem peers in the Lords – in a very different light.

PLEBGATE GUILTY PLEA

A police officer accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the Plebgate row involving Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey. Pc Keith Wallis admitted misconduct in public office between September 19 and December 16 2012, by saying that he had witnessed the incident at the gates of Downing Street and arranging for his nephew to support the claim. He may face jail.

It's a significant victory for Andrew Mitchell, particularly since the Met Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has been forced to apologise. But as Mr Mitchell's statement (see all key statements below) indicates, he's far from turning the page on what for him has been an all-consuming scandal – he will closely follow up to 10 other related disciplinary cases involving police officers.

And the talk of a comeback for the former chief whip? It remains just that. (The PM's spokesman said earlier it was a "reshuffle question" so not for him to discuss.) But in early 2014 – 477 days since the original Plebgate incident – it's starting to feel like Mr Mitchell has been out of high office for an awfully long time. Perhaps too long.

KEY PLEBGATE STATEMENTS

A statement from Andrew Mitchell said: "I am pleased that justice has been done in a criminal court today.

"It is very sad and worrying for all of us that a serving police officer should have behaved in this way. There remain many questions unanswered, in particular why Pc Wallis wrote this email and who else was involved in this process.

"I am looking forward to seeing justice done in the up to 10 other related disciplinary cases involving police officers so that I can focus all my energy on delivering for my constituents and help David Cameron win a Conservative majority at the 2015 Election."

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Met Commissioner, said: "I would… like to apologise to Mr Mitchell that an MPS officer clearly lied about seeing him behaving in a certain manner. I will be writing to him offering to meet and apologise in person.

"I expect my officers to serve the public without fear or favour, where officers break the law they must expect to be held to account and answer for what they have done."

David Cameron said: "It is completely unacceptable for a serving police officer to falsify an account of any incident.

"Andrew Mitchell has consistently denied the version of events presented in the email and I welcome the fact that the officer concerned has now pleaded guilty.”

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "This plea is not only the first public acknowledgement that Mr Mitchell has been the subject of gross unfairness but it also an admission that a criminal offence has been committed against him."

"With 11 other officers being subject to misconduct hearings, and the further investigation by the IPCC, this appears to be a complete vindication of Mr Mitchell's position."

BROWN SPEECH

Constitutional reforms should be made to create a "union for social justice" in which the UK can pool and share resources for the benefit of all, according to Gordon Brown. The former PM (and "ex-politician", as he calls himself) is speaking in Scotland tomorrow and will propose new legislation to state the Union's purpose, "namely the pooling and sharing of resources for social justice".

**PRESS CONFERENCE WATCH**

It has now been 206 days since David Cameron gave a full press conference in the UK.

ANZAC WHITEWASH

Downing Street attempted to quell a (new) row about the First World War centenary commemorations amid claims that the role of Australian and New Zealand troops is being "whitewashed". The PM's spokesman said it was "completely wrong" to suggest the contribution of the "Anzacs" was being overlooked. This week a senior Whitehall source was quoted as describing Maria Miller, whose department is overseeing the centenary, as an “idiot” and that she is “doing nothing to involve the rest of the Empire”. Our report here.

FARAGE INTERVIEW

Don't miss the Telegraph's interview with Nigel Farage in tomorrow's paper and online. Labour types aren't going to like it.

IMMIGRATION ROW

European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding was roundly criticised today by Mark Reckless MP, who accused her of "stoking up" a row over immigration. She claimed this week that British politicians were peddling "myths" about an influx of EU migrants. He hit back, saying "it's these European politicians… who seem to have been stoking this thing up".

FREE MOVEMENT

A Labour government could seek new restrictions on the movement of people within the EU, Chuka Umunna said. Speaking on Question Time, the shadow business secretary suggested that migrants could only be allowed into the UK to work if they already have a firm offer of a job. "The founders of the European Union had in mind free movement of workers, not free movement of jobseekers," he said. A poll late last year showed that 72% of Britons think the country should allow fewer (or no) unskilled immigrants: is Labour waking up to the strength of that feeling?

POLL OF THE DAY

The Conservatives are most likely to be seen as being "led by people of real ability", though only by 21% of respondents (14% think it applies most to Labour, 3% to the Liberal Democrats) – YouGov/The Sun